Associate Director, Retail Search

KINESSO; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

KINESSO seeks an Associate Director for Retail Search to optimize media campaigns and manage client relationships. The ideal candidate excels in retail media networks, team development, and data-driven marketing strategies. This mid-senior level role offers opportunities for professional growth in a dynamic environment with a strong focus on innovation.

Benefits

Generous paid time off

Flexible hybrid work model

Formal training opportunities

Community-based employee groups

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex client relationships in retail media.
• Strong understanding of Amazon Ads and other retail media networks.
• Proven capability in campaign optimization and team management.

Responsibilities

• Manage e-commerce media performance and strategy for clients.
• Collaborate with teams to execute campaigns and monitor KPIs.
• Mentor Campaign Managers and drive client success.

Skills

Communication

Data-driven decision making

Client management

Strategic thinking

Education

Professional background in Retail Media or Advertising

Tools

Amazon Ads

Pacvue

Skai

Job description

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The Associate Director, Retail Search is a key player in driving client success within the rapidly evolving landscape of Retail Media Networks (RMNs). As the KINESSO Client Lead, you'll be responsible for managing complex client relationships, identifying growth opportunities, and delivering world-class retail media campaigns for high-profile brands. You'll work closely with a team of Campaign Managers to ensure seamless execution and optimization of campaigns across major RMNs like Amazon, Loblaws, Walmart, Instacart, Criteo, and emerging platforms.

This role requires a strategic thinker with strong communication skills who can effectively articulate campaign performance and insights to senior stakeholders. You'll also play a key role in mentoring and developing the Campaign Management team.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage large, complex client relationships, acting as the primary point of contact for all aspects of e-commerce media performance and strategy.
• Collaborate with clients to forecast and execute budget plans aligned with agreed-upon KPIs.
• Partner with the Director Retail Media Strategy to develop and implement ongoing client strategies and team management initiatives.
• Partner with Director/Manager of Shopper tactics to management and integration of retailer shopper initiatives with retail media digital ads in a holistic manner.
• Monitor client goals and KPIs to ensure timely and successful campaign delivery.
• Lead a team of Campaign Managers, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages growth and development.
• Identify new opportunities for clients, proactively resolving issues and providing actionable insights.
• Develop and deliver compelling RFPs, decks, proposals, and planning recommendations based on data-driven insights.
• Mentor and train Campaign Managers and Associates, fostering their professional development.

Campaign Execution & Optimization

• Lead the development and implementation of strategic campaign structures to maximize performance aligned with client goals.
• Leverage data-driven keyword harvesting and selection to create effective keyword strategies.
• Define and implement bidding strategies, utilizing SaaS tools like Pacvue or within each Retail Media Network (RMN) platform, to optimize campaign performance.
• Manage and optimize e-commerce campaigns as well as budget management.
• Ensure efficient budget allocation and adjustments across campaigns and ad groups to maximize ROI.
• Conduct in-platform checks throughout campaign lifecycles to prevent budget overspend or underspend.
• Continuously optimize campaigns against pre-determined benchmarks to improve overall performance.

Reporting & Analysis

• Analyze campaign performance data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement.
• Develop and deliver comprehensive reports to stakeholders, including key metrics, insights, and actionable recommendations for optimization (bi-weekly or monthly).
• Leverage all available Retail Media data sets to enhance reporting and recommendations.

Team & Client Development

• Educate agency teams and clients on best practices and campaign objective requirements.
• Build strong collaborative relationships with planning teams, specialty business units (SBUs), partners, and vendors.
• Remain up-to date with the latest capabilities and innovations amongst our eCommerce 3P partners to always implement top capabilities in our processes.
• Stay abreast of industry news and emerging technologies, developing relevant POVs and thought leadership to share with clients.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Professional or educational background in Retail Media or Advertising.
• Proficiency in Amazon Ads console with a focus on Sponsored Ads (Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, Sponsored Brands Video, Sponsored Display, Stores).
• Proficiency in using 3P SaaS platforms or data aggregators for Retail Media such as Pacvue or Skai is highly desirable.
• Mid/Intermediate level experience in other Retail Media networks (Advance by Loblaws, Wal-Mart Connect, Instacart, Criteo).
• Comprehensive experience in programmatic and display within Retail Media Networks.
• Comprehensive experience in retailer managed Shopper campaigns & programs (eg. Walmart, Loblaws, Flipp, others) would be considered a plus.
• Proven ability to understand high-level client goals and translate them into effective e-commerce strategies
• Understanding of broader media planning and buying to ensure integration and coordination with wider media objectives
• Previous experience working within an advertising agency or with a media partner
• Proven experience being a people manager and managing a team
• Demonstrated ability to effectively apply knowledge and insights gained from research resources
• Strong working understanding of the e-commerce industry and platforms, including major players and supporting technology (e.g., SKAI, Pacvue, Criteo, Helium 10)
• Passion for retail media, e-commerce strategy, data, emerging media, and technology
• Professional learning agility with a passion for continuous development
• Client service oriented with a proactive approach to problem solving, assisting the team, and self-development
• Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Highly developed organizational skills with a strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

KINESSO is the technology-driven performance marketing agency that sits at the very heart of IPG Mediabrands, providing actionable growth for both our agency partners and clients. We turn 'action' into 'outcome' for our clients, leveraging our unique capabilities in optimization, analytics, AI, and experimentation. KINESSO has brought together the collective power of what was formerly Matterkind, Reprise, and Kinesso under one collective entity that will serve as the most powerful delivery engine in the industry. We have extensive offerings spanning across performance marketing and data and technology. Fueled by a deep understanding of consumer behavior, we offer an end-to-end engine of planning and optimization while also delivering on data-driven strategy for social platforms, actionable growth in e-commerce, and creating curated marketplaces specific to each client's function and needs. The company has more than 6,000 employees operating in more than 60 countries. Learn more at www.KINESSO.com

What's in it for you?

• Generous paid time off with a minimum of 37 paid days off including vacation and monthly wellness days. We also have four-day long weekends, half-day summer Fridays, and meeting-free Friday afternoons year-round.

• A flexible hybrid work model that works for you.

• A focus on personal development with formal training opportunities, including mental health training and inclusion education for everyone.

• A chance to be part of and grow within a global network of agencies.

• The opportunity to contribute to our company culture by joining one of our many community-based employee groups, such as Black Employee Network, Girls on Fire, Hispanic or Latinx Alliance, Neuro Network, Pan-Asian Network, and Rainbow Lounge.

KINESSO is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, colour, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, provincial, or municipal law. If you require an accommodation in any aspect of the selection process, please reach out to [e-mail]

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Advertising

• Industries

  Advertising Services

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